Cultivator



J. E. SMITH ,zsheets-sneez 1.

Cultivator."

-N o. 229,194. I Patented June 22, 1880.

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ZSheets-Sheet'Z. J. E. SMITH. Cultivator.

No. 229,'l94.- .315 ,fi'atenteg June 22, 1880.

N. PETERS. PHDTOYLITNOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D c.

7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

JOSEPH SMITH, OF MARLBOROUGH, TENNESSEE.

CULTIVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,194, dated June 22, 1880.

Application filed November 4, 1879.

a view of a modification of the lever for raising the plows.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures denote the same parts.

My invention relates to cultivators audit consists of certain improvements therein, as hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the main frame of the machine, constructed of wood or metal, and preferably in triangular form, as shown, and mounted upon a revolving axle, 0, having rigidly-secured transporting-wheels U G. In this frame A are arranged five plow or cultivator standards, one of which, B, is located at the front end of the frame, two others, B B, in the sides of the frame, opposite each other and a little forward of the axle O, and the remaining two, B 13 ,111 the sides of the frame, near the rear ends thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Each plow-standard projects up through a slot in the frame, and is pivoted therein on a cross bolt, b.

The lower face of the frame A is cut away on each side of the slots made in it, so as to form arcs of circles a, (see Fig. 4,) of which the cross-bolt b is the center. These arcs of circles a rest on curved shoulders or on each side of each standard, and prevent any upward pressure of the standard in the operation of the implement on the cross-bolts b. It isfurther provided with a curved brace, D, rendered adjustable by means of perforations d and pins (1.

A plow-point,p, is secured to the lower end or foot of each of the plow-standards, the point on the front standard, B, being of the form of the ordinary cultivator-shovel, while the points on the standards B B B B are formed so as to turn the earth to one side only.

In order that the plow-points may be temporarily raised to clear obstructions while in operation in the field, and also that they may be held in raised position while the machine is being transported to and from the field, I arrange a cross shaft, E, having upturned arms 6, and lever E on the top of the frame, and connect said upturned arms to the projecting upper ends of the standards by means of rods f.

The rods f, connecting the upturned arms 0 and the upper ends of the standards, are each independent of the others, so that the breakage of one will not affectthe operation of the others. The lever E projects backward within convenient reach of the attendant, who is stationed at the handles F F, so that he can readilv raise or lower the plow-points for any purpose without leaving his position at the handles.

A spring-catch, Gr, provided with an offset, 9, passing through a hole in one of the handles F, is so arranged with respect to the lever that when the latteris being drawn back such spring will be compressed, and when it reaches the limit of its backward movement will release said spring and allow it to spring outin front of the lever, the otfset g resting against the lever, and prevent the movement of the lever forward again.

Instead of the cross-shaft, handle, &c., as above described, the handle or lever shown in Fig. 5 may be employed, in which case two spring-catches may be applied, one to each side of the handle. The handles of the machine are jointed at their forward ends to the sides of the frame, and their outer ends near the parts grasped by the operator may be adjusted up or down, as circumstances may require, and be securely held in such adjusted position by means of perforated uprights H and bolts I, or any equivalent arrangement.

The main axle O is provided with a bevelpinion, which meshes with a corresponding pinion of smaller size secured to the end of a longitudinal counter-shaft, K, mounted in bearings on the under side of the frame. Said shaft K carries a'spider, L, to the arms lof which are connected adjustable and removable hoes M, which constitute the cotton-choppers. The hoes are preferably four in number, and are capable of adjustment in and out upon the arms of the spider, as desired.

The plow-points on the standards B B may be removed, and right and left scrapers N N applied in their stead.

By the employment of the scrapers in connection with the revolving hoes, 1 am enabled to scrape both sides of the row and chop out the cotton at the same time.

It remains only to describe the corn-droppin g mechanism.

O is the hopper, mounted upon the top of the frame near the front end thereof, and secured in place by any suitable means.

The corn is fed out'of the box and down through the conducting-tube P by means of a reciprocating slide, W, arranged in the bottom of the hopper, and operated by a swinging bar, Q, connected to across-piece, Q, journaled in one end of the hopper, said swinging bar being moved in one direction by a cuff-pin or cam, B, located on the main axle C, and impinging against its lower end, and in the opposite direction by asprin g, S, connected, through an adjustable rod, 8, t0 the top of said swinging bar. The corn, as it drops from the conveying-tube, falls into the furrow made by the plow on the front standard, B, and is covered up by the plows on the standards B B,which are arranged to throw the dirt inward.

In plowing corn or cotton the plows should always be attached right and left, so as to throw the dirt to each side outward from the central furrow made by the front plow; and in plowing small cotton or corn the front plow should be removed and the cultivator run astride the row. In the latter case, also, guardwheels T (shown in Fig. 3) should be employed.

By removing the dropping mechanism and employing the five plows and arranging four of them to turn the dirt to the center the land canbe bedded atoneoperation. By removing the two rear plows and adjusting the planting mechanism the machine is enabled to lay off, drop, and cover at one operation. By re moving the dropping mechanism and substituting the scrapers for the plows on the standards B B and adjusting the hoes of the spider, both sides of the rows can be scraped and the cotton chopped out at one operation; then, by removing the scrapers and again attaching the two plows to the two standards B B, both sides of the row may be plowed and the cotton chopped a second time.

If desired. every other hoe may be removed, so that in the second chopping every other hill left by the first chopping will be operated upon, leaving the plants about eighteen inches apart.

By removing the hoes and attaching the two rear plows four furrows can be plowed by straddlin g.

A tongue, A, is provided at the forward end of the frame for the attachment of the team.

If desired, a seat may be arranged on the frame at any suitable point within reach of the handle E, to enable the driver to ride and at the same time adjust the plow-standards as oocasion may require.

I am aware that plow-standards have heretofore been pivoted in a frame, and that curved brace rods adj ustably connected with the standards and frame have been employed to raise and lower the plows; and I am also aware that a rod secured to said standards and connected with a lever, by means of which all the plows can be raised or lowered as desired, has heretofore been employed; and I therefore lay no claim to such constructions, my invention being confined to the details of construction hereinbefore described, and pointed out in the claim.

I claim as my invention- The slotted frame A, cut away to form arcs a on each side of its slots,in combination with the cultivator-standards pivoted in the slots by the bolts 11, and provided with the curved shoulders a, cross-rods E, having the upturned arms 6, independent rods f, each connected with an arm and a standard, lever E, and spring Gr, having the offset g, the whole constructed, arranged, and operated in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

W. HwMGULAIN, M. S. MARTIN. 

